Bipolar junction transistor based switched capacitors

ABSTRACT

A switched capacitor is provided. The switched capacitor includes a pair of parallel component stacks. Each stack is connected to a common top node and a common bottom node. Each stack includes a BJT. Each stack further includes a first resistor in series with the BJT and having a first side connected to a collector of the BJT at an intermediate node in a same one of the stacks and a second side connected to the common top node. Each stack also includes a capacitor having a first side connected to the intermediate node and a second side for providing an impedance. Each stack additionally includes a second resistor having a first side connected to a base of the BJT to prevent base-current surge in the BJT and a second side connected to a switch base control signal that selectively turns the BJT on or off.

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

This invention was made with Government support under Contract No.:HR0011-12-C-0087 awarded by the Defense Advanced Research ProjectsAgency (DARPA). The Government has certain rights in this invention.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the following commonly assignedapplication, concurrently filed herewith and incorporated herein byreference: Ser. No. 14/831,907, entitled “Improving Oscillator PhaseNoise Using Active Device Stacking”.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to electronic devices and, inparticular, to bipolar junction transistor based switched capacitors.

Description of the Related Art

Electronic devices such as conventional voltage controlled oscillators(VCOs) use Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) switches. However, MOSswitches have, among other deficiencies, a limited tuning range. Thus,it is desirable to provide improved switches for devices such as VCOsand so forth.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present principles, a switched capacitoris provided. The switched capacitor includes a pair of parallelcomponent stacks. Each of the stacks is connected to a common top nodeand a common bottom node. Each of the stacks includes a bipolar junctiontransistor. Each of the stacks further includes a first resistor inseries with the bipolar junction transistor and having a first sideconnected to a collector of the bipolar junction transistor at anintermediate node in a same one of the stacks and a second sideconnected to the common top node. Each of the stacks also includes acapacitor having a first side connected to the intermediate node and asecond side for providing an impedance. Each of the stacks additionallyincludes a second resistor having a first side connected to a base ofthe bipolar junction transistor to prevent base-current surge in thebipolar junction transistor and a second side connected to a switch basecontrol signal that selectively turns the bipolar junction transistor onor off.

According to another aspect of the present principles, a method isprovided. The method is for providing a switched capacitor. The methodincludes providing a pair of parallel component stacks. Each of thestacks is connected to a common top node and a common bottom node. Eachof the stacks includes a bipolar junction transistor. Each of the stacksfurther includes a first resistor in series with the bipolar junctiontransistor and having a first side connected to a collector of thebipolar junction transistor at an intermediate node in a same one of thestacks and a second side connected to the common top node. Each of thestacks also includes a capacitor having a first side connected to theintermediate node and a second side connected to an inductor as part ofan inductor capacitor resonant tank for providing an impedance. Each ofthe stacks additionally includes a second resistor having a first sideconnected to a base of the bipolar junction transistor to preventbase-current surge in the bipolar junction transistor and a second sideconnected to a switch base control signal that selectively turns thebipolar junction transistor on or off.

These and other features and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof,which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The disclosure will provide details in the following description ofpreferred embodiments with reference to the following figures wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary stacked voltage controller oscillator (VCO)100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 2 shows the stacked configuration 200 of the stacked VCO of FIG. 1,in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 3 shows the equivalent half-circuit 300 for the stacked VCO 100 ofFIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 4 shows the stacked VCO 100 of FIG. 1 with elements relating to thetail inductor for noise filtering therein emphasized, in accordance withan embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary stacked VCO 500 configured to have aparticular frequency tuning, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent principles;

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary (non-stacked) voltage controller oscillator(VCO) 600 to which the present principles can be applied, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary method 700 for providing an integratedelectronic circuit having an oscillator with increased voltage swing andreduced phase noise, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentprinciples;

FIG. 8 shows a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) based switchedcapacitor 800, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentprinciples;

FIG. 9 shows another BJT based switched capacitor 900, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 10 shows a tunable stacked voltage controller oscillator (VCO) 1000using bipolar junction transistor (BJT) based switched capacitors, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 11 shows a capacitor bank 1100 with BJT switches, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 12 shows a tunable stacked voltage controller oscillator (VCO) 1200using bipolar junction transistor (BJT) switches with metal oxidesemiconductor (MOS) varactors, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent principles;

FIG. 13 shows a capacitor bank 1300 with BJT switches for coarse tuningwith MOS varactors, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentprinciples; and

FIG. 14 shows an exemplary method 1400 for providing a switchedcapacitor, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present principles are directed to bipolar junction transistor basedswitched capacitors.

Advantageously, the present principles increase voltage controlledoscillator (VCO) voltage swing even in advanced technology nodes byusing device stacking.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary stacked voltage controller oscillator (VCO)100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. FIG. 2shows the stacked configuration 200 of the stacked VCO of FIG. 1, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present principles.

The stacked VCO 100 includes a LC tank that is direct current decoupledfrom transconductance (G_(m)) cell devices using active and passivedecoupling circuits to achieve a higher voltage swing and lower phasenoise.

The stacked VCO 100 includes a capacitor C_(f) 101, a capacitor C_(b)102, a capacitor C₁ 103, a capacitor C₂ 104, a capacitor C₂ 105, acapacitor C₁ 106, a capacitor C_(b) 107, a capacitor C_(f) 108, acapacitor C_(Tail) 109, a resistor R_(Tail) 110, an inductor L_(Tank)111, an inductor L_(Tank) 112, an inductor L_(Tail) 113, a NPN bipolarjunction transistor (BJT) W₂ 114, a NPN BJT W₁ 115, a NPN BJT W₂ 116, aNPN BJT W₁ 117, a capacitor C_(tank) 118, and a capacitor C_(tank) 119.

A description will now be given of the connections of the elements ofthe stacked VCO 100. A first side of capacitor C_(f) 101 is connected toa collector of NPN BJT W₂ 114, a first side of capacitor C₁ 103, a firstside of inductor L_(Tank) 111, and a first side of capacitor C_(tank)118. A second side of capacitor C_(f) 101 is connected to an emitter ofNPN BJT W₂ 114 and a collector of NPN BJT W₁ 115. A second side ofinductor L_(Tank) 111 is connected to a first side of inductor L_(Tank)112 and to VCC. A second side of inductor L_(Tank) 112 is connected to afirst side of capacitor C₁ 106, a first side of capacitor C_(f) 108, acollector of NPN BJT W₂ 116, and a first side of capacitor C_(tank) 119.A second side of capacitor C_(tank) 118 is connected to a second side ofcapacitor C_(tank) 119. A second side of capacitor C₁ 106 is connectedto a first side of capacitor C₂ 105 and a base of NPN BJT W₁ 115. Asecond side of capacitor C_(f) 108 is connected to an emitter of NPN BJTW₂ 116 and a collector of NPN BJT W₁ 117. A second side of capacitor C₁103 is connected to a first side of capacitor C₂ 104 and a base of NPNBJT W₁ 117. An emitter of NPN BJT W₁ 117 is connected to an emitter ofNPN BJT W₁ 115 and a first side of inductor L_(Tail) 113. A second sideof capacitor C₂ 105 is connected to ground. A second side of capacitorC₂ 104 is connected to ground. A second side of inductor L_(Tail) 113 isconnected to a first side of resistor R_(Tail) 110 and a first side ofcapacitor C_(Tail) 109. A second side of resistor R_(Tail) 110 isconnected to ground. A second side of capacitor C_(Tail) 109 isconnected to ground.

Referring to FIG. 2, the stacked configuration 200 formed in stacked VCO100 includes a LC tank 163 stacked on active and passive decouplingcircuits 162 which, in turn, are stacked on a G_(m) (transconductance)cell 161.

The LC tank 163 is formed from inductor L_(Tank) 111, inductor L_(Tank)112, capacitor C_(f) 101, capacitor C_(f) 108, capacitor C_(tank) 118,capacitor C_(tank) 119, and a series combination of capacitors C₁ 103with C₂ 104 and C₁ 106 with C₂ 105.

The active and passive decoupling circuits 162 are formed fromtransistors W₂ 114 and W₂ 116 (active decoupling) and capacitors C₁ 103,C₁ 106, C₂ 104 and C₂ 105 (passive decoupling). The passive decouplingportion (capacitors 103-106) of the active and passive decouplingcircuits 162 determines the ratio of voltage swings at the top collectorand bottom base for optimal phase noise.

The Gm cell is formed from transistors W₁ 115 and W₁ 117.

The active circuits from active and passive decoupling circuits 162include n active devices in a series configuration in a stack, with n(here n is equal to 1, in the case of device W₂) being an integergreater than or equal to one. Hence, other embodiments, multiple Wstransistors can be stacked in series to implement the active circuitsfrom the active and passive decoupling circuits 162. The LC tank 163 isconnected to a collector of a top one (W₂) of the n active devices inthe stack, and whereby voltage swings across individual ones (W₁ and W₂)of the n active devices add up in-phase to provide a combined voltageswing that is n times higher than an individual voltage swing providedby an individual one of the n active devices.

The active and passive decoupling circuits 162 include passive elements(e.g., capacitors C₁ 103, C₁ 106, C₂ 104 and C₂ 105) for feeding back aportion of a tank swing to a base of a bottom one (W₁) of the n activedevices in the stack so as to transform a voltage swing of a givenmagnitude across the tank to a voltage swing of a reduced magnitude atthe base of the bottom one (W₁) of the n active devices in the stack toprevent a breakdown of the bottom one (W₁) of the n active devices.

The bottom device (W₁) is thus analogous to the transconductor in asingle device cross-coupled VCO, while the stacked devices (W₂) ideallyserve as current buffers. The stacked devices (W₂) convey the currentgenerated by the bottom device (W₁) to the top collector node (thecollector node of W₂), generating a voltage swing, which is then fedback to the bottom base (the base of W₁) by the transformation network Mto close the feedback loop. The ratio of the voltage swings at the topcollector and bottom base nodes is denoted by k. A simplified analysisas shown in FIG. 1 indicates that compared to a single deviceimplementation (n=1) with the same total bias current (I_(bias)), the ntimes larger voltage swing across the tank in a stacked VCO results inphase noise that is correspondingly n times lower than the single deviceVCO.

Referring to FIG. 1, a description will now be given regarding devicesize and optimal biasing, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent principles.

All the negative resistance current is buffered into the tank using theactive common base buffer.

A device size ratio of 2:1 for W1:W2 has been found to be optimal basedon simulation results. Of course, the present principles are not limitedto the preceding device size ratio and, thus, other device size ratioscan also be used, while maintaining the spirit of the presentprinciples.

V_(be) bias values (V_(be1) and V_(be2)) are optimized for the givendevice size ratio to minimize phase noise.

Referring to FIG. 1, a description will now be given regarding thefeedforward capacitors, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentprinciples.

The feedforward capacitors include capacitor C_(f) 101 and capacitorC_(f) 108.

Each of the feedforward capacitors help to evenly distribute tank swingacross two devices, which equalizes stress across the transistors. Forexample, capacitor C_(f) 101 equalizes stress across NPN BJTs 114 and115, and capacitor C_(f) 108 equalizes stress across NPN BJTs 116 and117.

Referring to FIG. 1, a description will now be given regarding the basecapacitors, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles.

The base capacitors include capacitor C_(b) 102 and capacitor C_(b) 107.

The base-collector junction (V_(bc)) should always be reverse-biased(V_(bc2)<0.6V) to prevent noise injection.

Each the base capacitors facilitate voltage swing at the implicated baseto prevent the base-collector from forward-biasing.

A description will now be given of some of the many advantages of thestacked VCO 100 of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent principles. The tank is direct current decoupled from the G_(m)cell devices using active circuits so as to improve swing withoutreducing negative resistance. Regarding the decoupling performed usingactive devices: (1) voltage division is performed, but no currentdivision in opposite direction (unlike a transformer); (2) more tuningrange is obtained over prior art VCOs; and (3) more phase noise benefitis obtained over prior art VCOs. It is to be appreciated that stackedamplifiers have been designed before, but do not involve feedback, andare therefore designed using different principles than those involved bydisclosed embodiments of the present principles. An oscillator usespositive feedback, in order to achieve instability, leading tooscillation. This feedback in a typical oscillator is implemented byconnecting the LC tank directly to the active device. In case a stackedamplifier was directly used with positive feedback, the large swing onthe LC tank, when connected in positive feedback with the input activedevice, would break down the active device. Herein, an appropriatevoltage transformation is proposed in the positive feedback network inorder to maintain a low voltage swing at the active device terminals.

The ratio of the voltage swings at the top collector and bottom basenodes is denoted by k.

FIG. 3 shows the equivalent half-circuit 300 for the stacked VCO 100 ofFIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. Thehalf circuit 300 includes a capacitor C₁ 301, a capacitor C₂ 302, acapacitor C_(b) 303, a capacitor C_(f) 304, an inverting device 305, aNPN BJT W₁ 306, a NPN BJT 307, and an inductor L_(Tank) 308.

FIG. 4 shows the stacked VCO 100 of FIG. 1 with elements relating to thetail inductor for noise filtering therein emphasized, in accordance withan embodiment of the present principles.

The tail inductor provides high impedance at the tail node for evenharmonics, thereby reducing corresponding noise components.

In another embodiment (not shown), we can sue bias current control that,in turn, uses a switchable tail resistor.

The shunt capacitor C_(Tail) 109 filters the noise of the resistorR_(Tail) 110.

Also, the inductor LTail and capacitor CTail are designed such that theimpedance (Zin) looking into the end of the inductor that is connectedto the active devices is very large, ideally infinity at twice thefrequency of oscillation.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary stacked VCO 500 configured to have aparticular frequency tuning, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent principles.

As is evident, the stacked VCO 500 is similar to the stacked VCO 100shown in FIG. 1, but with some additional components and somemodifications in order to have a particular frequency tuning. Due to thelarge voltage swing of the tank, varactors are implemented at the baseto prevent breakdown.

The stacked VCO 500 includes a capacitor 501, a capacitor 502, acapacitor 503, a capacitor 504, a capacitor 505, a capacitor 506, acapacitor 507, a capacitor 508, a capacitor 509, a resistor 510, aninductor 511, an inductor 512, an inductor 513, a NPN bipolar junctiontransistor (BJT) 514, a NPN BJT 515, a NPN BJT 516, and a NPN BJT 517.The stacked VCO 500 further includes a transmission line 521, acapacitor 522, a transmission line 523, a capacitor 524, a transmissionline 525, a capacitor 526, a transmission line 527, a capacitor 528, aninductor 531, a resistor 532, a capacitor 533, an inductor 534, acapacitor 535, and an inductor 536.

A description will now be given of the connections of the elements ofthe stacked VCO 500. A first side of capacitor 501 is connected to acollector of NPN BJT 514, a first side of capacitor 503, and a firstside of inductor 511. A second side of capacitor 501 is connected to anemitter of NPN BJT 514 and a collector of NPN BJT 515. A second side ofinductor 511 is connected to a first side of inductor 512 and to VCC. Asecond side of inductor 512 is connected to a first side of capacitor506, a first side of capacitor 508, and a collector of NPN BJT 516. Asecond side of capacitor 506 is connected to a first side of capacitor505, a base of NPN BJT 515, and a first side of transmission line 525. Asecond side of transmission line 525 is connected to a first side ofcapacitor 526. A second side of capacitor 526 is connected to ground. Asecond side of capacitor 508 is connected to an emitter of NPN BJT 516and a collector of NPN BJT 517. A second side of capacitor 503 isconnected to a first side of capacitor 504, a base of NPN BJT 517, and afirst side of transmission line 527. A second side of transmission line527 is connected to a first side of capacitor 528. A second side ofcapacitor 528 is connected to ground. An emitter of NPN BJT 517 isconnected to an emitter of NPN BJT 515, a first side of inductor 531,and a first side of inductor 534. A second side of capacitor 505 isconnected to ground. A second side of capacitor 504 is connected toground. A second side of inductor 531 is connected to a first side ofresistor 532 and a first side of capacitor 533. A second side ofresistor 532 is connected to ground. A second side of capacitor 533 isconnected to ground. A second side of inductor 534 is connected to afirst side of resistor 535 and a first side of capacitor 536. A secondside of resistor 535 is connected to ground. A second side of capacitor536 is connected to ground. A base of NPN BJT 814 is connected to afirst side of capacitor 502. A second side of capacitor 502 is connectedto a first side of a transmission line 821. A second side oftransmission line 521 is connected to a first side of capacitor 822. Asecond side of capacitor 522 is connected to ground. A second side ofcapacitor 802 is connected to ground.

The stacked VCO 500 is powered by a power supply circuit 599. The powersupply circuit 599 includes a capacitor 551, a resistor 552, a varactor553, a varactor 554, a resistor 555, a resistor 556, a capacitor 557, acapacitor 558, a capacitor 559, and a capacitor 560.

A description will now be given of the connections of the elements ofthe power supply circuit 599. A first side of capacitor 551 is connectedto ground. A second side of capacitor 551 is connected to a first sideof resistor 552 and voltage Vd. A second side of resistor 552 isconnected to a first side of varactor 553 and a first side of varactor554. A second side of varactor 553 is connected to a first side ofcapacitor 557 and a first side of resistor 556. A second side ofcapacitor 557 is connected to a voltage V_(b) ⁺, which is provided to abuffer. The buffer is used to drive the load of a following stage,provide isolation of the VCO from the following stage, and also performimpedance transformation. A second side of varactor 554 is connected toa first side of capacitor 958 and a first side of resistor 555. A secondside of capacitor 558 is connected to a voltage V_(b) ⁻, which isprovided to a similar buffer to that described above. It is alsopossible to use a single differential buffer with Vb+ and Vb− as itsinputs. A second side of resistor 553 is connected to a second side ofresistor 555, a first side of capacitor 559, and a first side ofcapacitor 560. A second side of capacitor 559 is connected to ground. Asecond side of capacitor 560 is connected to ground.

Although one or more embodiments herein have been described usingbipolar junction transistors, it is to be appreciated that the presentprinciples are applicable to all transistors including complimentarymetal-oxide semiconductor transistors. In fact, the present principlescan be more valuable using CMOS transistors, especially CMOS silicon oninsulator (SOI) configurations, due to their lower breakdown voltage andisolated devices. In an embodiment, positive feedback amplifiers with alarge output, or regenerative amplifiers can be designed based on thesame principles.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary voltage controller oscillator (VCO) 600 towhich the present principles can be applied, in accordance with anembodiment of the present principles. The switched capacitors 800 and900 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively, which are described in detailherein below can be applied to a stacked VCO such as stacked VCO 100shown in FIG. 1 or can be applied to a non-stacked VCO such as VCO 600shown in FIG. 6. Moreover, it is to be appreciated that while theswitched capacitors (800 and 900) are described herein with respect toVCOs in general, the switched capacitors (800 and 900) can also be usedfor other applications including, but not limited to, filters, variableloads, reflection type phase shifters, and so forth.

The VCO 600 includes a MOSFET 601, a MOSFET 602, a current source 603, avariable capacitor bank 606, and an inductor 607. The variable capacitorbank 606 includes a variable capacitor 604 and a variable capacitor 605.

The switched capacitors described herein can be used for the capacitorbank 606.

A first side of inductor 607 is connected to a first side of variablecapacitor 604, a gate of MOSFET 602, and a source of MOSFET 601. Asecond side of inductor 607 is connected to a first side of variablecapacitor 605, a gate of MOSFET 601, and a source of MOSFET 602. Asecond side of variable capacitor 604 is connected to a second side ofvariable capacitor 605. Drains of the MOSFETS 601 and 602 are connectedto a first side of the current source 603. A second side of the currentsource 603 is connected to ground.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary method 700 for providing an integratedelectronic circuit having an oscillator with increased voltage swing andreduced phase noise, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentprinciples.

At step 710, provide a transconductance cell formed fromtransconductance cell devices.

At step 720, provide active and passive decoupling circuits.

The active and passive decoupling circuits include n active devices in aseries configuration in a stack, with n being an integer greater thanone, wherein voltage swings across individual ones of the n activedevices add up in-phase to provide a combined voltage swing that is ntimes higher than an individual voltage swing provided by a single oneof the n active devices.

The active and passive decoupling circuits include passive devices forfeeding back a portion of a tank swing to a base or gate of a bottom oneof the n active devices in the stack so as to transform a voltage swingof a given magnitude across the tank to a voltage swing of a reducedmagnitude at the base or gate of the bottom one of the n active devicesin the stack to prevent a breakdown of the bottom one of the n activedevices.

At step 730, provide an oscillator having a tank. The tank is directcurrent decoupled from the transconductance cell devices using theactive and passive decoupling circuits to increase voltage swing anddecrease phase noise of the oscillator.

Electronic devices such as conventional voltage controlled oscillatorsuse MOS switches. The present principles are directed to a BJT-basedswitch (hereinafter “BJT switch”) which provides many advantages of MOSswitches. For example, a BJT switch has a better RonCoff than a MOSswitch. Moreover, for the same Ron and comparable phase noise, the BJTswitch can yield a better tuning range.

FIG. 8 shows a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) based switchedcapacitor 800, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentprinciples. The BJT switch 807 can be used to implement a variablecapacitor using the two states of the BJT switch, as shown. The switchedcapacitor 800 includes a capacitor 801, a resistor 802, a resistorR_(coll) 803, a capacitor 804, a resistor R_(base) 805, a NPN BJT 806, aNPN BJT 807, and a resistor 808.

The BJT switch 807 has an improved RonCoff than prior art MOSFETswitches. For the same R_(on) and comparable phase noise, BJT switchedcapacitor, 800, can yield a better tuning range than prior art MOSFETswitches.

It is to be appreciated that, in general, we can use only one of thestacks (left or right side) shown in FIG. 8 to provide a single endedswitched capacitor, instead of the pseudo-differential switchedcapacitor as shown.

FIG. 9 shows another BJT based switched capacitor 900, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present principles.

The BJT based switched capacitor 900 can be used instead of the BJTbased switched capacitor 800 to obtain the benefits described below. TheBJT based switched capacitor 900 includes a capacitor 901, a resistor902, a resistor R_(coll) 903, a capacitor 904, a resistor R_(base) 905,an NPN BJT 906, an NPN BJT 907, a resistor R_(base) 908, an inductor909, a capacitor C_(stable) 910, a digital inverter 911, a MOSFETM_(pull-down) 912, a MOSFET 913, a digital inverter 914, a capacitor915, and an inductor 916.

Resistor R_(base) 908 protects NPN BJT 906 against a base-current surge.

Capacitor C_(stable) 910 ensures against instability due to routing baseinductance.

MOSFET M_(pull-down) 912 ensures that NPN BJT 906 does not accidentlyturn on when OFF through a capacitive division of the collector voltage.MOSFET M_(pull-down) 912 also prevents avalanche breakdown by settingR_(base)=0 when the device is OFF and the collector of NPN BJT 906 isswinging high. The parasitic capacitance of MOSFET M_(pull-down) 912 ismuch smaller than switch C_(off) and has no effect on FTR.

FIG. 10 shows a tunable stacked voltage controller oscillator (VCO) 1000using bipolar junction transistor (BJT) based switched capacitors, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present principles.

The tunable stacked VCO 1000 includes a variable inductor 1001, avariable capacitor 1002, a variable capacitor 1003, a capacitor 1004, acapacitor 1005, a capacitor 1006, a capacitor 1007, a capacitor 1008, acapacitor 1009, a NPN bipolar junction transistor (BJT) 1010, acapacitor 1011, a capacitor 1012, a NPN BJT 1013, a resistor 1016, acapacitor 1017, a capacitor 1018, and a resistor 1019, a NPN BJT 1020, aNPN BJT 1021, an inductor 1031, and an inductor 1032.

A description will now be given of the connections of the elements ofthe tunable stacked VCO 1000. A first side of variable inductor 1001 isconnected to a first end of variable capacitor 1002, a first end ofcapacitor 1004, a first end of capacitor 1006, and a collector of NPNbipolar junction transistor (BJT) 1020. A second side of variableinductor 1001 is connected a first end of variable capacitor 1003, afirst end of capacitor 1005, a first end of capacitor 1009, and acollector of NPN BJT 1021. A second end of variable capacitor 1002 isconnected to a second end of variable capacitor 1003. A second end ofcapacitor 1004 is connected to a first end of capacitor 1012 and a baseof NPN BJT 1013. A second end of capacitor 1005 is connected to a firstend of capacitor 1011 and a base of NPN BJT 10104. A base of NPN BJT1020 is connected to a first side of capacitor 1007. A second side ofcapacitor 1007 is connected to ground. A base of NPN BJT 1021 isconnected to a first side of capacitor 1008. A second side of capacitor1008 is connected to ground. A second side of capacitor 1006 isconnected to an emitter of NPN BJT 1020 and a collector of NPN BJT 1010.A second side of capacitor 1009 is connected to an emitter of NPN BJT1021 and a collector of NPN BJT 1013. A second side of capacitor 1011 isconnected to ground. A second side of capacitor 1012 is connected toground. An emitter of NPN BJT 1010 is connected to an emitter of NPN BJT1013, a first side of inductor 1031, and a first side of inductor 1032.A second side of inductor 1031 is connected to a second side of inductor1032, a first side of resistor 1016, a first side of capacitor 1017, afirst side of capacitor 1018, and a first side of resistor 1019. Thesecond sides of resistor 1016, capacitor 1017, capacitor 1018, andresistor 1019 are connected to ground.

A tuning scheme with a capacitor bank with BJT switches for tuning canbe included across the inductor.

FIG. 11 shows a capacitor bank 1100 with BJT switches, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present principles. The capacitor bank 1100can be used to implement variable capacitors 1002 and 1003 in the VCO1000 of FIG. 10.

The capacitor bank 1100 includes a capacitor 1101, a switch 1102, aswitch 1103, a capacitor 1104, a capacitor 1105, a switch 1106, a switch1107, a capacitor 1108, a capacitor 1109, a switch 1110, a switch 1111,and a capacitor 1112.

FIG. 12 shows a tunable stacked voltage controller oscillator (VCO) 1200using bipolar junction transistor (BJT) switches with metal oxidesemiconductor (MOS) varactors, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent principles.

The tunable stacked VCO 1200 includes a variable inductor 1201, avariable capacitor 1202, a variable capacitor 1203, a capacitor 1204, acapacitor 1205, a capacitor 1206, a capacitor 1207, a capacitor 1208, acapacitor 1209, a NPN bipolar junction transistor (BJT) 1210, acapacitor 1211, a capacitor 1212, a NPN BJT 1213, a resistor 1214, acapacitor 1215, a resistor 1216, a capacitor 1217, a capacitor 1218, anda resistor 1219, a NPN BJT 1220, a NPN BJT 1221, a capacitor 1222, aresistor 1223, a resistor 1224, a capacitor 1225, a capacitor 1226, anda resistor 1227.

A description will now be given of the connections of the elements ofthe tunable stacked VCO 1200. A first side of variable inductor 1201 isconnected to a first end of variable capacitor 1202, a first end ofcapacitor 1204, a first end of capacitor 1206, and a collector of NPNbipolar junction transistor (BJT) 1220. A second side of variableinductor 1201 is connected a first end of variable capacitor 1203, afirst end of capacitor 1205, a first end of capacitor 1209, and acollector of NPN BJT 1221. A second end of variable capacitor 1202 isconnected to a second end of variable capacitor 1203. A second end ofcapacitor 1204 is connected to a first end of capacitor 1212, a base ofNPN BJT 1213, and a first side of resistor 1227. A second side ofresistor 1227 is connected to a first side of capacitor 1226. A secondside of capacitor 1226 is connected to ground. A second end of capacitor1205 is connected to a first end of capacitor 1211, a base of NPN BJT1210, and a first side of resistor 1224. A second side of resistor 1224is connected to a first side of capacitor 1225. A second side ofcapacitor 1225 is connected to ground. A base of NPN BJT 1220 isconnected to a first side of capacitor 1207 and a first side of resistor1214. A second side of resistor 1214 is connected to a first side ofcapacitor 1215. A second side of capacitor 1215 is connected to ground.A second side of capacitor 1207 is connected to ground. A base of NPNBJT 1221 is connected to a first side of capacitor 1208 and a first sideof resistor 1223. A second side of resistor 1223 is connected to a firstside of capacitor 1222. A second side of capacitor 1222 is connected toground. A second side of capacitor 1208 is connected to ground. A secondside of capacitor 1206 is connected to an emitter of NPN BJT 1220 and acollector of NPN BJT 1210. A second side of capacitor 1209 is connectedto an emitter of NPN BJT 1221 and a collector of NPN BJT 1213. A secondside of capacitor 1211 is connected to ground. A second side ofcapacitor 1212 is connected to ground. An emitter of NPN BJT 1210 isconnected to an emitter of NPN BJT 1213, a first side of resistor 1216,a first side of capacitor 1217, a first side of capacitor 1218, and afirst side of resistor 1219. The second sides of resistor 1216,capacitor 1217, capacitor 1218, and resistor 1219 are connected toground.

Although shown here with resistors 1216, 1219 and capacitors 1217 and1218 at the common emitter node of the VCO, in general, the circuitshown in FIG. 12 can also be implemented using any high impedancecircuit to replace the combination of 1216, 1217, 1218 and 1219. Forexample, a high impedance current sink can be utilized. This highimpedance at the common emitter node ensures appropriate voltage swingon all nodes of the active devices to prevent them from breaking down.Without this impedance, the instantaneous voltage swing across devices1210 and 1213 would cause these devices to break down. These and othervariations of the circuit of FIG. 12 are readily determined by one ofordinary skill in the art given the teachings of the present principlesprovided herein, while maintaining the spirit of the present principles.

A tuning scheme with a capacitor bank with BJT switches for coarsetuning and a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) varactor scheme for finetuning can be included across the inductor.

FIG. 13 shows a capacitor bank 1300 with BJT switches for coarse tuningwith MOS varactors, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentprinciples.

The capacitor bank 1300 includes a capacitor 1301, a switch 1302, aswitch 1303, a capacitor 1304, a capacitor 1305, a switch 1306, a switch1307, a capacitor 1308, a capacitor 1309, a switch 1310, a switch 1311,a capacitor 1312, a capacitor 1313, a resistor 1314, a capacitor 1315, avariable capacitor 1316, a variable capacitor 1317, a capacitor 1318, aresistor 1319, a resistor 1320, a capacitor 1321, and a capacitor 1322.

A varactor 1350 is formed from resistor 1314, variable capacitor 1316,variable capacitor 1317, capacitor 1318, resistor 1319, resistor 1320,capacitor 1321, and capacitor 1322.

FIG. 14 shows an exemplary method 1400 for providing a switchedcapacitor, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles.

At step 1410, provide a pair of parallel component stacks. Each of thestacks is connected to a common top node and a common bottom node. Step1410 includes steps 1410A through 1410D.

At step 1410A, provide a bipolar junction transistor.

At step 1410B, provide a first resistor in series with the bipolarjunction transistor. The first resistor has a first side connected to acollector of the bipolar junction transistor at an intermediate node ina same one of the stacks and a second side connected to the common topnode.

At step 1410C, provide a capacitor having a first side connected to theintermediate node and a second side for providing an impedance.

At step 1410D, provide a second resistor having a first side connectedto a base of the bipolar junction transistor to prevent base-currentsurge in the bipolar junction transistor and a second side connected toa switch base control signal that selectively turns the bipolar junctiontransistor on or off.

At step 1420, provide another capacitor having a first side connected tothe second side of the second resistor and a second side connected tothe common bottom node for mitigating bipolar junction transistorinstability from routing base inductance.

At step 1430, provide, in each of the stacks, a metal oxidesemiconductor field effect transistor having a source connected to thefirst side of the second resistor, a drain connected to the commonbottom node, and a gate connected to the second side of the secondresistor. The metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor isconfigured to prevent an accidental powering on of, and an avalanchebreakdown of, the bipolar junction transistor.

At step 1440, provide a digital inverter, wherein the gate is indirectlyconnected to the second side of the second resistor using the digitalinverter having an input connected to the second side of the secondresistor and an output connected to the gate.

At step 1450, provide a switch collector control signal connected to thetop common node for selectively turning the bipolar junction transistoron or off.

Thus, the bipolar junction transistor in each of the stacks iscontrolled using two independent signals that include the switch basecontrol signal and the switch collector control signal. The twoindependent signals have different values and lack an inversionrelationship when used to selectively turn on the bipolar junctiontransistor in each of the stacks.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like,and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” ofthe present principles, as well as other variations thereof, means thata particular feature, structure, characteristic, and so forth describedin connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodimentof the present principles. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in oneembodiment” or “in an embodiment”, as well any other variations,appearing in various places throughout the specification are notnecessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

It is to be appreciated that the use of any of the following “/”,“and/or”, and “at least one of”, for example, in the cases of “A/B”, “Aand/or B” and “at least one of A and B”, is intended to encompass theselection of the first listed option (A) only, or the selection of thesecond listed option (B) only, or the selection of both options (A andB). As a further example, in the cases of “A, B, and/or C” and “at leastone of A, B, and C”, such phrasing is intended to encompass theselection of the first listed option (A) only, or the selection of thesecond listed option (B) only, or the selection of the third listedoption (C) only, or the selection of the first and the second listedoptions (A and B) only, or the selection of the first and third listedoptions (A and C) only, or the selection of the second and third listedoptions (B and C) only, or the selection of all three options (A and Band C). This may be extended, as readily apparent by one of ordinaryskill in this and related arts, for as many items listed.

Having described preferred embodiments of a system and method (which areintended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted thatmodifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the artin light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood thatchanges may be made in the particular embodiments disclosed which arewithin the scope of the invention as outlined by the appended claims.Having thus described aspects of the invention, with the details andparticularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desiredprotected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A switched capacitor, comprising: a pair ofparallel component stacks, each of the stacks connected to a common topnode and a common bottom node, and including: a bipolar junctiontransistor; a first resistor in series with the bipolar junctiontransistor and having a first side connected to a collector of thebipolar junction transistor at an intermediate node in a same one of thestacks and a second side connected to the common top node; a capacitorhaving a first side connected to the intermediate node and a second sidefor providing an impedance; and a second resistor having a first sideconnected to a base of the bipolar junction transistor to preventbase-current surge in the bipolar junction transistor.
 2. The switchedcapacitor of claim 1, wherein each of the stacks further comprisesanother capacitor having a first side connected to a second side of thesecond resistor and a second side connected to the common bottom node.3. The switched capacitor of claim 2, wherein the bottom common node isconnected to ground.
 4. The switched capacitor of claim 2, wherein eachof the stacks further comprises a metal oxide semiconductor field effecttransistor having a source connected to the first side of the secondresistor, a drain connected to the common bottom node, and a gateconnected to the second side of the second resistor.
 5. The switchedcapacitor of claim 4, wherein the gate is indirectly connected to thesecond side of the second resistor using a digital inverter having aninput connected to the second side of the second resistor and an outputconnected to the gate.
 6. The switched capacitor of claim 4, wherein themetal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor is configured toprevent an accidental powering on of, and an avalanche breakdown of, thebipolar junction.
 7. The switched capacitor of claim 1, wherein the topcommon node is connected to a switch collector control signal forselectively turning the bipolar junction transistor on or off.
 8. Theswitched capacitor of claim 1, wherein the bipolar junction transistorin each of the stacks is controlled using two independent signals thatcomprise a switch base control signal and a switch collector controlsignal.
 9. The switched capacitor of claim 8, wherein the twoindependent signals have different values and lack an inversionrelationship when used to selectively turn on the bipolar junctiontransistor in each of the stacks.
 10. The switched capacitor of claim 1,wherein the capacitor is a switched capacitor that is in a capacitorbank of a voltage controlled oscillator for tuning a frequency range ofthe voltage controlled oscillator.
 11. The switched capacitor of claim10, wherein the capacitor bank comprises a metal-oxide semiconductorvaractor for coarse tuning the frequency range of the voltage controlledoscillator, and wherein the switched capacitor is for fine tuning of thefrequency range of the voltage controlled oscillator.
 12. A method forproviding a switched capacitor, the method comprising: providing a pairof parallel component stacks, each of the stacks connected to a commontop node and a common bottom node, and including: a bipolar junctiontransistor; a first resistor in series with the bipolar junctiontransistor and having a first side connected to a collector of thebipolar junction transistor at an intermediate node in a same one of thestacks and a second side connected to the common top node; a capacitorhaving a first side connected to the intermediate node and a second sideconnected to an inductor as part of an inductor capacitor resonant tankfor providing an impedance; and a second resistor having a first sideconnected to a base of the bipolar junction transistor to preventbase-current surge in the bipolar junction transistor.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising providing, in each of the stacks, anothercapacitor having a first side connected to a second side of the secondresistor and a second side connected to the common bottom node formitigating bipolar junction transistor instability from routing baseinductance.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing, ineach of the stacks, a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistorhaving a source connected to the first side of the second resistor, adrain connected to the common bottom node, and a gate connected to asecond side of the second resistor.
 15. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising configuring the metal oxide semiconductor field effecttransistor to prevent an accidental powering on of, and an avalanchebreakdown of, the bipolar junction transistor.
 16. The method of claim12, further comprising connecting the top common node to a switchcollector control signal for selectively turning the bipolar junctiontransistor on or off.
 17. The method of claim 12, further comprisingcontrolling the bipolar junction transistor in each of the stacks usingtwo independent signals that comprise the switch base control signal anda switch collector control signal.
 18. The method of claim 17, whereinthe two independent signals have different values and lack an inversionrelationship when used to selectively turn on the bipolar junctiontransistor in each of the stacks.
 19. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising including the capacitor as a switched capacitor in acapacitor bank of a voltage controlled oscillator for tuning a frequencyrange of the voltage controlled oscillator.
 20. The method of claim 19,wherein the capacitor bank comprises a metal-oxide semiconductorvaractor for coarse tuning the frequency range of the voltage controlledoscillator, and wherein the method further comprises fine tuning thefrequency range of the voltage controlled oscillator using the switchedcapacitor.